The doctor tells the nurse to administer excessive doses of opioid analgesic and sedative drugs to relieve the client's intractable pain, but not to tell the client's family. Which ethical principle would be breached if the nurse gives the drugs but does not tell the family?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Veracity is the principle of honesty and truth-telling. If the nurse does not disclose the administration of excessive doses of opioids and sedatives to the client's family, he or she would be breaching this principle. The family has the right to know about the client's treatment plan, and keeping them in the dark would not be truthful. Although confidentiality is an important principle, it may be overridden by the principle of veracity in certain situations. Justice and beneficence are not relevant to this scenario.

The Doctor Tells the Nurse to Administer Excessive Doses of Opioid